Restoring Patients' Quality of Life Through Knowledge
– Dr. Pranathip Rinkaewkan –
The ultimate goal of treating illness is to enable patients to return to their normal lives, or as close to normal as possible. This rehabilitation process can often take even longer than the initial treatment. Dr. Ann (Dr. Pranathip Rinkaewkan, PhD, MD), a specialist in Rehabilitation Medicine and Physical Therapy at BNH Hospital, is there at every step, encouraging patients through this period with her understanding of their conditions, friendly demeanour, online content, and inspirational stories from her own life’s challenges, which she learns to live with and accept every day.
An Art Enthusiast
“I’ve always been an art enthusiast. I used to want to study fine arts or architecture.”
Dr. Ann reminisces about her school days, where she was always assigned to the art department for any school activity – designing cut-outs for sports days, letter-forming boards, or Christmas displays.
She loved art from a young age and never considered becoming a doctor. In those days, when university admissions were still based on an entrance exam system where you chose four preferred faculties, Dr. Ann’s choices would have been in art, design, or engineering. She even took the aptitude tests for architecture and fine arts.
As someone who disliked biology, being a doctor was never Dr. Ann’s future goal. But one day, a friend from Triam Udom Suksa (a renowned high school) invited her to intern at the Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital. Unsure of what doctors actually did, she decided to observe. After completing the 10-week internship, she was eligible to apply for a quota scholarship at Siriraj Hospital. She took the exam, passed, and thus began her medical career without prior planning.
“But it turned out that when I started studying medicine, learning about the human body and its various organs was actually fun. It was a different kind of art. In my second year, I felt I was enjoying it more than my friends who had wanted to be doctors from the start, because I hadn’t expected it to be like this. I enjoyed writing assignments too, so I felt very lucky.”
“Even though my natural inclination is artistic, when I saw my architect friends working, I felt they had to stay up late, finish projects, and endure a lot of hardship.”
After gaining experience in various medical fields, Dr. Ann realised that many might not be what she wanted to pursue long-term. However, art and exercise were things she wanted to spend her time on, leading her to choose rehabilitation medicine, a field that involves the human body’s physiology, caring for bones, muscles, and exercise. She completed her specialisation in this field at Siriraj Hospital and further pursued a sub-specialty in spinal rehabilitation at Stanford University, USA. Upon returning to Thailand in 2015, Dr. Ann, PhD, MD, has remained with BNH Hospital ever since.
“Even now, my inclination is still the same. I get to talk, care for, and educate patients, and it feels good. And then I get to do my own little art projects. That brings me happiness.”
Treatment and Rehabilitation
“For challenging cases that are treatable, if the patient doesn’t want surgery and we can successfully treat them without it, I feel very proud.”
Rehabilitation medicine aims to restore impaired bodily functions. It is a crucial part of the holistic ‘Complete Care’ that BNH Hospital strives to promote. Patients who have been bedridden for extended periods due to any illness may experience mobility issues. Patients who have undergone surgery for bone or muscle problems still need care from a rehabilitation medicine doctor to help their bodies regain movement as close to normal as possible. This also applies to the common aches and pains experienced by working professionals.
“People nowadays spend a lot of time working on computers or using mobile phones. When you palpate their muscles, they’re often tense, though not yet at the painful stage. Most patients try to find their own solutions first, like massage parlours or gyms. But eventually, if the pain doesn’t subside, they usually end up seeing us doctors. Some people think they just have office syndrome, but it’s actually something else. What I’ve seen includes painful joint impingement, pinched nerves, or inflamed cervical discs.”
If the symptoms are just common aches and pains that seem ordinary, leading patients to believe they won’t be severe enough to require surgery, they become even more anxious and resistant. Therefore, another challenge for Dr. Ann is to successfully treat patients without resorting to surgery. The field of rehabilitation medicine offers a variety of techniques, including acupuncture, injections, laser therapy, shockwave therapy, physical therapy, or exercise. However, the approach depends on the nature of the symptoms.
“I had a patient who used her wrist so much she experienced numbness. It was found that she had moderate to severe carpal tunnel syndrome, where connective tissue was pressing on the nerve in her wrist. She didn’t want surgery. So, I designed a physical therapy programme and treated her with injections to clear the nerve, relieving the compression. The patient had to undergo continuous treatment. With ongoing treatment, her numbness decreased, and she was able to resume her daily activities. She was very happy not to need surgery.”
“Our job is to improve patients’ quality of life. Whether they are in pain, have muscle weakness, cannot help themselves, cannot sit, stand, walk, swallow, or speak, our duty is to enable them to live their lives again.”
However, physical rehabilitation is truly only the endpoint of treatment and healing. The holistic care provided by doctors requires the patient’s cooperation in addressing the root cause of the problem, to prevent symptoms that have improved from recurring severely. This includes regularly changing postures to reduce muscle tension from prolonged static positions, consistently exercising in postures recommended by the doctor to avoid injury, avoiding inappropriate postures, and consuming foods that strengthen muscles.
To help patients understand the principles of self-care, Dr. Ann compiles important knowledge and shares it through her own channels, whilst also dedicating time to her beloved artistic pursuits.
Rehab Your Life
“I studied a lot. I studied medicine, did research, completed my specialisation, went abroad, and also obtained various certifications. So, I can do everything from ultrasound and injections to Chinese acupuncture and various pain relief devices. Looking back, I wonder if I studied too much, but today, my work brings me more joy than not. The nature of the work aligns with my personality. I get to care for patients, improve their quality of life, and equip them with knowledge for self-care. I also get to do my writing. I feel good about it.”
If you’re curious about Dr. Ann’s content, head to leading bookstores and ask for ‘Minor Aches and Pains’ (ปวดเมื่อยเรื่องเล็ก). This pocketbook features cute cartoon illustrations that teach self-care exercises designed, written, and illustrated by the rehabilitation doctor herself.
“Initially, I drew everything myself. Once I finished drawing, I sent it to a graphic designer to continue.”
Originally, Dr. Ann never intended to publish a book. However, one of her patients, who worked in design, sought treatment from her and recovered from a cervical spine issue. The self-care knowledge the patient applied came from Dr. Ann’s direct advice and her Facebook page, ‘Rehab Your Life: Minor Aches and Pains’ (Rehab Your Life ปวดเมื่อยเรื่องเล็ก), where the doctor creates content and illustrations herself. The patient then offered to help with the graphics. Over time, as the content grew, it was compiled into a book for those who prefer not to read online.
“I’m not super-fit, so I take my time, doing a little at a time when I feel rested from work.”
But the content the doctor has created little by little now includes her Facebook page, a physical book, content on Medium under the name Dr.Pranathip Rinkaewkan (for detailed guidance for various patient groups), and a YouTube channel featuring demonstration videos of exercises, where Dr. Ann often models herself, named DrAnnPlanet.
“Patients who come for treatment need to be taught various physical therapy exercises, and we have to teach them often. I’m afraid they might forget. Some exercises I want them to do at home. So, I made video clips of exercises to teach patients, and even about food. People in this department need muscle, so I advise on appropriate protein intake. I feel that we must educate patients. It’s not just about seeing the doctor and the pain disappearing. You have to take care of yourself too. You have to consistently do physical therapy, adjust your posture and behaviour, and exercise on your own. We prioritise educating patients. It’s a small happiness that, in the end, patients understand how to take care of themselves. And drawing cute little things along with exercising is something I already enjoy. It feels like I get to do what I love and also be useful.”
Growing Up with Diabetes
Dr. Pranathip describes herself as an entertainer. When with close friends, laughter is constant. With patients, once she gets to know them, they realise she is kind, attentive, talkative, and very approachable. But behind this smile, Dr. Ann is one of those who grew up with an incurable illness and must care for herself throughout her life.
“I am not someone with a strong body or a lot of energy. I have been living with Type 1 Diabetes since I was 16 years old. My body cannot produce insulin on its own; I have to inject insulin every day, otherwise I would die.”
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that transports blood sugar to various body tissues for energy. If the pancreas produces little or no insulin, sugar remains in the bloodstream, raising blood sugar levels, which is the cause of Type 1 Diabetes. Dr. Ann has therefore had to inject insulin daily. Not only that, patients also need to control their diet, calculate daily carbohydrates to inject the correct amount of medication, and exercise to lower blood sugar levels. For a normal person, it might be possible to get busy and forget about diet control or exercise, but for the doctor, it is a necessity that must be done daily. And if she doesn’t take good enough care of herself, the consequences come at the cost of her health and life.
“Life means living in the present. Whatever happens, we have to adjust accordingly. We learn, and then we can share that with others. It’s the same when caring for patients. It’s not that you’ll live with this problem forever. You have to solve the problem at hand and adapt.”
The doctor’s efforts to live with her condition in the highest quality possible have become an inspiration for patients who are currently struggling with their own challenges. Dr. Ann also regularly shares knowledge and self-care methods related to paediatric diabetes, as well as updating new scientific advancements concerning Type 1 Diabetes, as a pro bono service in the journal of the Club for Children and Adolescents with Diabetes (sugar free) every year since 2004, while she was still studying at Siriraj Hospital’s Faculty of Medicine, up to the present day.
“In my life, seeing patients get better, seeing my content being viewed more, people benefiting more, understanding how to take care of themselves better, being happier – that feels valuable.”
The doctor’s small happiness is simply to create something useful, to be an inspiration through her own story, and to enjoy hobbies alongside her regular work, which ultimately brings about significant change in many people’s lives.
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PRANATHIP RINKAEWKAN, M.D., Ph.D.
ดร. พญ. ประเนตรทิพย์ รินแก้วกาญจน์
Speciality
Rehabilitation Medicine
Clinical Interest
Pain Management
Exercise in Chronic Disease
Education
Medical Degree, Doctor of Medicine, Mahidol University, Thailand
Doctor's Degree, Doctor of Philosophy Programme in Immunology, Mahidol University, Thailand
Fellowship
PM&R Spine Research Fellow, Stanford University School of Medicine, United States of America
Board and Sub board Certification
Thai Medical Council, Rehabilitation Medicine, Siriraj Hospital
Certificate
Acupuncture & Moxibustion for Physician Course, Royal Thai Army Medical Department in cooperation with Tianjin University, China
Certificate of Musculoskeletal ultrasound examination in rehabilitation practice, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taiwan
Pain Medicine Observership, Stanford University & University of Washington, United States of America
Spine & Sports Rehabilitation Observership, Rehab Institute of Chicago, United States of America
BACK PAIN, Thai Asscosiation for the Study of Pain, Thailand
BDMS Bylaws, BDMS, Thailand
Code of behavior (TH), BDMS, Thailand
Language
Chinese
English
Thai
Gender
Female
Schedule
Rehabilitation Department
| Day | Time |
|---|---|
| Monday | 08:00 - 17:00 |
| Tuesday | 08:00 - 13:00 |
| Wednesday | 08:00 - 16:00 |
| Thursday | 12:00 - 19:30 |
| Friday | 08:00 - 17:00 |
| Saturday | - |
| Sunday | - |
Premier Spine Rehabilitation Centre
| Day | Time |
|---|---|
| Monday | - |
| Tuesday | 08:00 - 17:00 |
| Wednesday | - |
| Thursday | - |
| Friday | - |
| Saturday | 12:00 - 17:00 |
| Sunday | - |
This is the doctor's regular weekly schedule. Actual availability may vary — please confirm the available date and time when you make an appointment.